S2 #E27: Sheree Hargreaves: Life of POI – Primary ovarian insufficiency

12/30/24 • 55 min

Sheree Hargreaves is a campaigner to improve awareness of primary ovarian insufficiency (POI). At just 15 years old, Sheree was diagnosed with POI, which is a condition that drastically altered the course of her life. Now, at 24, Sheree is using her story to raise awareness about this often-misunderstood condition and to support others who may feel isolated by their diagnosis. Sheree holds a Master's degree in Gender, Society and Representation from University College London, where she explored societal, political, and cultural structures. She is an Early Menopause Educator, Research and Engagement Lead and Menopause Ambassador. Sheree often appears in the press to talk about POI and is very active on social media with her Instagram account – Life of POI.

Instagram @lifeofpoi and https://www.pauseandunite.co.uk/Sheree-Hargreaves-early-menopause-ambassador
https://www.eshre.eu/-/media/sitecore-files/Guidelines/POI/2024/POI-GUIDELINE_Patient-version_2024_12_10.pdf

Sheree’s story is heartbreaking. She never had a period, and at age 15, her mother insisted on blood tests. The results revealed that she was infertile and was suffering from what was then called primary ovarian failure – now failure has been replaced with insufficiency. Can you imagine being given such life-changing news at just 15?

Sheree suffers from primary ovarian insufficiency (POI), a rare condition that affects about 1% of women aged 15 to 44, though it is more common in women over 30. In this podcast, Sheree shares personal details of her journey so far — the medications she takes to stay healthy, and what POI means for her chances of starting a family in the future. We also discuss the causes of POI, its symptoms, diagnosis, and available treatments. Sheree has been working tirelessly to connect women experiencing POI and raise awareness through her Instagram account, @lifeofpoi.

Date of episode recording: 2024-12-11T00:00:00Z
Duration: 00.55.10
Language of episode: English
Presenter:Professor Joyce Harper
Guests: Sheree Hargreaves
Producer: Joyce Harper

Date of episode recording: 2024-12-11T00:00:00Z
Duration: 00.55.10
Language of episode: English
Presenter:Professor Joyce Harper
Guests: Sheree Hargreaves
Producer: Joyce Harper

Previous Episode

S2 #E26: Professor Helena Teede: Understanding polycystic ovary syndrome

PCOS Professor Teede is the Director of Monash Centre for Health Research Implementation, Monash University and an Endocrinologist at Monash Health. She holds an Order of Australia for services to Women’s Health. Through decades of research, Helena is considered one of the world leaders in women’s health including PCOS, healthy pregnancy and menopause. She is a strong advocate for advancing women in leadership in healthcare and research and leads the International “Advancing Women in Healthcare and Health and Medical Science” initiative with 22 partners. She is dedicated to impact and equity, based on genuine partnership with the community, patients and carers in research and health service codesign and delivery. Her work reaches all 195 countries, and she has been awarded for international engagement.

Useful links: https://www.askpcos.org/ TikTok - @pcosvitality
https://www.eshre.eu/Guidelines-and-Legal/Guidelines/Polycystic-Ovary-Syndrome

Did you know that PCOS affects more than 1 in 10 women? Early diagnosis can significantly improve quality of life. In this podcast, Helena explains what PCOS is, its symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments. PCOS is a complex syndrome that is often misunderstood. Many believe it is solely a disorder of the ovaries or just about having infrequent periods, but it is much more than that. PCOS can impact metabolism, mental health, and fertility, leading to both short- and long-term health challenges. Women with PCOS face an increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, sleep issues, endometrial cancer, fertility difficulties, weight problems, and mental health struggles. Lifestyle management plays a crucial role, and we discussed how challenging it can be to maintain a healthy weight in today’s society.

Helena highlights the importance of early recognition, especially in adolescents. Symptoms like irregular periods, severe acne, and excess body hair are enough to diagnose PCOS. For younger women, further tests are often unnecessary, but for older women, scans and blood tests may be recommended. Alongside lifestyle changes, the contraceptive pill can be a useful tool for managing symptoms. Everyone should know about PCOS.

Date of episode recording: 2024-12-18T00:00:00Z
Duration: 01.06.37
Language of episode: English
Presenter:Professor Joyce Harper
Guests: Professor Helena Teede
Producer: Joyce Harper

Next Episode

S3 #E1 Professor Joyce Harper: Nurturing your good health and happiness

In this episode, Joyce shares that her podcast is now listened to in over 90 countries. She reflects on the highlights from 2024, including the launch of a mini-series featuring episodes on Motherhood, Embracing life post menopause, and Beyond the Bleed: Exploring Menstrual Health. She has some incredible guests lined up for 2025. And thanks to Dave Krysko for creating the new podcast music.

On the very first episode of Why Didn’t Anyone Tell Me This?, Joyce revealed that her advice to her younger self would have been to beat her sugar addiction and spend more time being still. Fast forward to today, and she shares her triumph—nearly five months without eating chocolate, cakes, biscuits, sweets, or pastries. Joyce reflects on how challenging this is in today’s society and discusses why breaking these habits is so important. She also recounts her attempts at silent days in 2024, admitting they weren’t a total success but is a work in progress for 2025.

Joyce has been hard at work on her upcoming book, which she hopes will empower women to live their best lives. She provides a sneak peek into the chapters on health and happiness, including the development of her Wheel of Health and Happiness. This framework, which she has shared in her blogs, will also feature in the retreats she is organizing in Brighton and the South of France.

In this episode, Joyce also delves into her ongoing projects, including the International Reproductive Health Education Collaboration, the InTune menopause education and support program, and her work with the SwimHer team, focusing on cold-water swimming and women’s health. She also highlights her research into menstrual health. Now an ambassador for Wellbeing of Women, Joyce looks forward to collaborating with the WoW team in 2025. On a more personal note, Joyce opens up about her twins leaving home, how her campervan has transformed her life, navigating her financial challenges, and her journey to find love. She also shares how creating a vision board has profoundly impacted her life.

Joyce has been writing blogs on many of the topics discussed in this episode, which can be found on her Global Women Connected section of her website. In 2025, she is relaunching her newsletters, which you can sign up for at www.joyceharper.com.

Date of episode recording: 2025-01-05T00:00:00Z
Duration: 00.51.31
Language of episode: English
Presenter: Professor Joyce Harper
Guests: Professor Joyce Harper
Producer: Joyce Harper